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Sawfly larvae have been identified for agronomist, Michael Taylor (PFC Ag), from a barley crop north west of Griffith, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Michael says they were found feeding on remnant spiny emex weeds and did not appear to be damaging any crop plants at this stage. Sawflies, a close relative of wasps, bees and ants (Order: Hymenoptera) have previously been recorded as occasional pests of crops including wheat, barley and lupins in parts of south-eastern Australia. Very little is known about the biology of this pest.
Sawfly larvae grow up to 15 mm long and are greyish-green in colour with a shiny dark head capsule. They are relatively hairless and leathery in appearance and may be easily confused with lepidopteran (moth and butterfly) larvae. They have a slightly flattened body with three pairs of well-developed thoracic legs and seven pairs of fleshy-lobed prolegs. The majority of sawfly larvae are phytophagous (plant-feeding) and adult wasps generally feed on nectar.
What is PestFacts?
PestFacts south-eastern keeps growers and advisers informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter-cropping season in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
PestFacts south-eastern is run through IPMforGrains: Best Practice Insect Pest Management, a project delivered by the National Pest Information Network (cesar, DPIRD, QDAF, NSW DPI, and SARDI). This project aims to provide grain growers and advisors with information on invertebrate grain pest occurrence and equip industry with the knowledge needed to implement integrated pest management practices. This initiative is a GRDC investment and includes in-kind contributions from all project partner organisations.
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PestFacts is produced on an ʻas-needsʼ basis and relies upon pest observations and field reports from our subscribers. If you have recently observed invertebrate pests (or beneficial species) in broadacre crops, please contact us to report your observations.
Agricultural invertebrate identification
If you are a grower or agronomist in Victoria or NSW working with broadacre crops or pastures, we can assist you with identifying invertebrates found on farms at no cost. Please contact us for identification help.
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PestFacts map is an interactive tool that allows users to search and view historical pest reports across Victoria and NSW. The map is updated with each issue of PestFacts to include new reports.
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With appropriate acknowledgement, cesar grants permission to reproduce information taken directly from PestFacts. To cite PestFacts: “PestFacts south-eastern (<<enter date published>>). cesar pty ltd.”
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